06 MCP

Phase 2 - Agent Core
Stage 6 of 14. Previous: Stage 5 - Tools and Actions. Next: Stage 7 - RAG and Memory.

Goal

Understand Model Context Protocol as a standard way for agents to connect to tools and resources.

Learn

• MCP Overview
• MCP Hosts, Clients, and Servers
• Building MCP Servers
• Local vs Remote MCP
• Tool and Resource Exposure
• Security boundaries for MCP-connected tools

Build

Build a simple MCP server that exposes safe tools and document how a host connects to it.

Exit Criteria

• You can explain MCP as agent-to-tool communication.
• You can identify host, client, and server responsibilities.
• You can distinguish exposed resources from exposed tools.
• You can describe when local MCP is safer than remote MCP.

Checkpoint

Use the Stage 6 checkpoint before moving on.

Test

Use the QAs: 06 MCP to check your understanding of every topic in this stage.

Interview

For hiring or deeper study, use the interview pages with interviewer rubrics:

• Junior Interview: MCP — friendly, example-driven questions for learners.
• Senior Interview: MCP — open-ended, trade-off and design questions.